Body 2.0: The Engineering Revolution in Medicine

by Sara Latta

Overview

Scientists are on the verge of a revolution in biomedical engineering that will forever change the way we think about medicine, even life itself. Cutting-edge researchers are working to build body organs and tissue in the lab. They are developing ways to encourage the body to regenerate damaged or diseased bone and muscle tissue. Scientists are striving to re-route visual stimuli to the brain to help blind people see. They may soon discover methods to enlist the trillions of microbes living in our bodies to help us fight disease. Learn about four strands of bioengineering—tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, neuroengineering, microbial science, and genetic engineering and synthetic biology—and meet scientists working in these fields.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781541528130
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/05/2019
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	1170L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Sara Latta has written several books for middle grade and YA readers, including Body 2.0: The Engineering Revolution in Medicine (Twenty-First Century Books, 2020); Black Holes: The Weird Science of the Most Mysterious Objects in the Universe (Twenty-First Century Books, 2018); Smash! Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe with the Large Hadron Collider (Graphic Universe, 2017), and Scared Stiff: Everything You Need to Know about 50 Famous Phobias (Zest Books, 2014). She lives in New York City with her husband and children. Visit her online at www.saralatta.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Hot and heady: an enticing calling card for researchers of tomorrow."—starred, Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

11/01/2019

Gr 7 Up—Latta provides a glimpse into the not-too-distant future of medical technology. Although the author makes it clear that biomedical engineering is not a new field, previous developments, such as the use of prosthetic toes by the ancient Egyptians, are nothing compared with what today's scientists are working toward, from gene splicing and organ generation to the development of technology to help the blind see. Latta describes new strands of bioengineering, including neuroengineering and microbial science, and, through knowledgeable interviews, reveals insights from those working in these fields. This full-color book features many pictures and diagrams to further demonstrate the significance of this science. VERDICT This compelling work of nonfiction about the science of improving the human condition would make an excellent addition to a career readiness or biology classroom library.—Kevin McGuire, Woodland Hills School District, PA

School Library Journal

★ 2019-08-28
A primer on biomedical engineering.

Veteran science author Latta (Zoom in on Mining Robots, 2018, etc.) here spotlights the fascinating convergence of medicine, engineering, and scientific discovery, offering provocative glimpses into the burgeoning fields of tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, neuroscience, microbiology, genetic engineering, and synthetic biology. Inspiring problem-solving-minded teens to explore these STEM disciplines by describing projects so cutting edge they seem like science fiction, Latta also includes brief profiles and photos of diverse researchers that enable readers to imagine themselves pursuing similar careers. Says Dr. Gilda Barabino, "I think there's a little bit of an engineer in everybody. It's curiosity! Everybody wants to know how things work." Areas of potential breakthrough covered include brain-computer interfaces that may one day allow people with paralysis or limited mobility to move their limbs or control a robot helper; editing the human genome to treat chronic diseases like sickle cell disease by removing and replacing damaged DNA; optogenetics, which hopes to combine gene therapy with light to reduce pain and cure blindness; and growing bespoke body parts like bone, skin, arteries, and more in the lab, seeded by one's own cells and partially crafted by 3-D bioprinters. Full-color diagrams and photos combined with informative text boxes and a lively, conversational style make this an appealing choice.

Hot and heady: an enticing calling card for researchers of tomorrow. (glossary, source notes, bibliography, further information, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews